An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about a friend?

We recently wrote an article on why friendships are good for both our physical health and emotional wellbeing, and we just can’t quite get over the extraordinary health benefits that come from spending time with our mates. 

We all know that life is not about what we have, but who we spend our time with, and science has long proven that supportive friendships are key to living a happier and longer life (American Psychological Association, 2024). But, the extent to which friendships make that all important difference to our health is quite incredible.

Here's 6 fascinating facts that prove just how amazing your friends really are:

1). Being lonely can alter your cell activity - and not for the better.

Yep, you read that right. Not spending time with people, or feeling like you lack close bonds, has the power to impact the way our bodies function. Science Journalist Lydia Denworth says that when we are feeling lonely, our white blood cells change the way they behave and become inflamed, which leads to a weakened immune response, and makes us slower to bounce back from feeling ill (Denworth, L., 2023).

2). Got a cold? Should’ve spent more time with friends!

While it's easy to blame the hustle and bustle of city life or that commuter who just wouldn’t stop sneezing when we’re feeling a bit under the weather, science tells a different story. A study involving 276 participants who were exposed to a cold-causing virus found that those with more active social lives were less likely to get sick compared to those with fewer social interactions (Cohen et al, 1997).

3). Loneliness is just as dangerous for our health as smoking.

We all know how dangerous smoking can be for our health, with avid smokers living 10 years less on average than non-smokers. Psychologist Julianne Holt-Lunstad (2010) found that loneliness can be just as damaging as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! 

4). Better friends 🤝 Better Sleep.

Is your Apple Watch or Oura Ring telling you that you need to get some more sleep tonight? Well, what you actually might need is to spend some more time with your friends. Scientists have shown that people who have supportive friendships and close social connections sleep far better than individuals who do not have strong social bonds (Kent et al, 2016)

5). Money can’t buy happiness, but friendship can!

The infamous debate as to whether money can buy happiness can stop now—we’ve got the answer you’ve been waiting for, and it turns out that your financial status is not the key ingredient for happiness. Indeed, an 80-year-long study that is being conducted at Harvard University (1993 -) and follows the lives of 268 people from different walks of life has consistently found friendship to be a more important influence on our happiness than our wealth, or job title. 

6). Want a hack for lowering your blood pressure? Hang out with a supportive friend. 

As we age, we’re often reminded of the importance of taking extra care of our health—monitoring things like our cholesterol levels or blood pressure. But, what if we told you there’s an easy way to improve your wellbeing, and that its all to do with friendship. That's right, friendship is a scientifically backed way to lower stress and improve how we handle life’s challenges.

Make new friends by joining the StoriBoard Club. Take our 5-minute quiz, get paired up with five like-minded people, and enjoy exclusive discounts and treats from our partner venues. Making new friends has never been so easy! 

If you are struggling with loneliness or your mental health, download the StoriBoard app to make meaningful connections with people who understand what you are going through, can relate themselves, and can both validate and support you through any hard time. 

This article was written by Emma Annetts - a Marketing Intern at StoriBoard.